Dallas County Living Well Magazine Summer 2015 | Page 44

On Medicare?
Be Aware of Hospital Observation Charges!
By Tucker Thompson, CSA

M

ore and more seniors on Medicare, with or without supplement insurance coverage or Advantage
Plans, are getting stung with higher out-of-pocket
expenses and fewer Medicare benefits in the ever-widening Medicare net called “Observation Care.” You can be
admitted into a hospital for up to 72 hours under observation, which will not be paid by Medicare or your health
plan. Make sure you are formally admitted as an inpatient,
after a doctor orders it to a hospital, and not placed under
observation admission. Time spent under observation does
not count towards the three-day hospital inpatient stay requirement for skilled nursing [rehab] facility coverage under Medicare. In addition, Medicare will not pay for drugs
or injections during hospital “observation care.” You or a
family member should always ask if you’re an inp ]Y[